Method of making shovels



Jan. 18,1927. 4, 98"

W. E. SKELTON v METHOD OF MAKING SI-IOVELS Filed Feb. 16, 1926 v Af/omeys Patented Jan. 18, 1927. i

I retinas WALTER E. SKELTON, O1

MQMILTGN, ONTARIU, CANADA,

iE-STGNOR TO SKELTON' SHOVEL 30., INC, A CORPDFJATIOII F TEE H YORK.

METHOD OF MAI ENG SI-IOVEIi-S.

Application filed February My invention resides in a method of making shovels, the object of the invention being to produce a shovel of the strap type with a solid shank, in which the blade, shank and straps are integral, and in which the straps are so disposed as to lie upon the upper and lower sides of the wooden handle, when the latter is applied.

The improved method consists in rolling out into a thin sheet a portion of a rightangled fang of a blank of metal, leaving that portion of the fang adjacent to the body of the blank in a thickened condition, cutting the rolled out portion of said fang to produce a pair of tongues, forging or compressing the thick portion of the fang to form a solid shank, curving said tongues transversely and twisting said shank through an angle of 90, and afterwards rolling or plating the remaining part of said blank to form the blade.

The details of the invention will hereinafter appear and that which I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawing forming part of this specification,

Fig. 1 is a face view of one of the blanks from which the shovel is made;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with the right-angled fang thereon rolled out into a thin sheet;

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the blank in the condition in which it is shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. t is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the relied out portion of the blank cut away to form a pair of tongues;

5 is a perspective view showing the thick portion of the fang reduced, and the two tongues transversely curved and turned so that they face each other;

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the material of the shank twisted through an arc of 90", and

Fig. 7 is a view of the shovel in its completed condition. with the lower end of the wooden handle shown applied.

improved shovel consists of a blade 1, solid shank 2 and a pair of straps 3 between which the wooden handle f is inserted and secured. The blade, shank and straps are integral with each other, being formed from a single piece of bar steel. The straps 3 are curved transversely, so as to conform to the shape of the handle, and are so disposed that they lie upon the upper and lower 18, 1926. Serial No. 88,664.

sides of said handle when the latter is in place. 7 I

In making my improved shovel, I start with a blank 5 of bar or sheet steel or other suitable metal, the same being formed on one side with a right-angled fang 6. A portion of this fang is first rolled out, as shown at 7 in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, leaving a part 8 of the at i s point of juncture with the body of the blank in its original thickness. The next step of the method is to cut away, by suitable dies, a part of the mater'il of the thin portion 7 to form the tongues 9 and 10. These tongues have been shown as extending at an acute angle to each other and as provided with pointed upper ends. The next step of the method is to reduce or compress, by forging. the thick portion 8 of the fang 6 to form the solid shank 2, to impart a transverse curvature to each of the tongues 9 and 10, and to turn said tongues so that they face each other, as shown in Fig. 5. The tongues 9 and 10, which have now been converted into the straps 3, would, if left in their present position, engage opposite sides of the handle 4, when the latter is applied. But this would be objectionable because it would then be necessary for the securing rivets, which hold the handle in place, to extend crosswise of the handle. This tends to weaken the handle. It is much preferable that the securing rivets 11 extend through the handle from its upper to its lower side. Accordingly, as the thick portion 8 of the fang 6 is being forged to form the solid shank 2, the latter is twisted or turned through an arc of 90 so that, when the shovel is completed, the straps 3 thereof will lie in such a position that they will engage the handle 4.- on its upper and lower sides, when the latter is inserted. The body portion 12 of the blank 5 is afterwards plated or rolled out to form the blade 1 of the shovel as clearly shown in Fig. 7.

While I have described my invention as relating to the construction of shovels, it is obvious that it applies to the construction of other analogous tools, such as spades, forks and the like. Where the term shovel is used in the claims, therefore, it is intended that the same shall comprehend other tools analogous thereto.

I claim: 1. The method of making shovels which consists in rolling out into a thin sheet a portion of a right-angled fang of a blank of metal, leaving that portion of the fang adjacent to the body of the blank in a thick ened condition, cutting away the thin portion of the fang to form a pair of tongues, forging or compressing the thick portion of the fang to form a solid shank, turning said tongues so that they face each other, and twisting the material of the shank through an arc of 90.

2. The method of making shovels which consists in rolling out into a thin sheet a portion of a. right-angled fang of a blank 01' metal, leaving that portion of the tang adj acent to the body of the blank in a thickened condition. cutting away the thin portion of the tang to form a pair oi tongues, forging or compressing the thick portion of the fang to form a solid shank, turning said tongues so that they face each other, transversely curving the same, twisting the material of the shank through an arc of 90, and plating or rolling out the body portion of the blank to form the blade of the shovel.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

VALTER E. SKE TON. 

